“Spyfall” part two is here! Doctor Who series 12 has started off intense and full of surprises. Part one of this episode left us with the reveal and return of the Master (portrayed by Sacha Dwahan). The Master is the Doctor’s oldest friend and oldest rival. He is a Time Lord as well who has the ability to regenerate. However, he now has to steal bodies in order to stay alive. This was why the Doctor (Jodie Whittaker) did not recognize him at first in the last episode. This second part answered so many questions from what happened in part one, but it also left us with even more questions! This review contains spoilers. If you have not seen the episode, then please read no more.
What happened in the first half of “Spyfall” part two
Part two opens with the Doctor (portrayed by Jodie Whittaker) in the unknown realm. She has no idea where she is or where she could possibly be. She’s talking to herself to be sure she’s still alive. She reminds her self, “Don’t panic.” This is what she would say to the others if they were in that situation. What another great reminder in life. Talk to yourself the way you talk to your friends! I digress…The Doctor is trying to figure out what the flashing lights are. Pathways? Signals? We have those same questions!
Next, a woman named Ada (guest star appearance by Sylvie Briggs) appears, and she claims these creatures are her guardians. Every time she faints, she believes these “guardians” bring her to this place inside her own mind. Then, she somehow ends up back in the real world. As it turns out, those creatures have the ability to transport through time and space. One appears, and the Doctor is able to escape with Ada. However, she ends up in 1834…
Flash to the airplane still crashing. As the Doctor’s friends are panicking, Ryan (played by Tosin Cole) finds instructions on how to stop the crash. The Doctor appears on a video telling them what to do and how to do it. How in the world did she know how to save them? Ryan does as she tells him to do, and the craft lands safely. Thank goodness, we were all wondering how that was going to end. We see that Barton (played by Lenny Henry) was removed from the craft by the Master. So, that answers that question. Barton, of course, is not happy they survived. The Master claims he has everything under control. He realizes that the Doctor has escaped and leaves to take care of the situation.
The second half of “Spyfall” part two
Naturally, the Master chases the Doctor into 1834. He comes in, Tissue Compression Eliminator blazing, and threatens to kill everyone. The Master cannot figure out how she escaped. This proves he doesn’t know how to control the creatures! He knows very little about them. They are called Kasaavin. Kasaavin are spies through time and history. The Master tells the Doctor he has a message from home and asks if she has been there recently. We don’t get to hear the message because Ada shoots him in the shoulder. The Master escapes. A Kasaavin appears, and the Doctor believes she can use it to go back to her friends. “Where there’s risk, there’s hope.” Ada goes with her, and they end up in Paris 1943.
Ryan, Yaz (played by Mandip Gill), and Graham (portrayed by Bradley Walsh) are forced into hiding. Barton has them on a watch list and is tracking their every move. As they are trying to figure out what to do, they realize that they don’t know who the Doctor really is. That doesn’t change the fact that they are worried about her but hopeful that she is safe somewhere. Kasaavin show up, surround them, and it looks hopeless. Graham to the rescue (albeit, accidentally) with his laser shoes!
One of my favorite elements of this episode was the Master chasing the Doctor through time. He winds up disguised as a German soldier in 1943 Paris. The Doctor meets Noor Khan (guest star appearance by Aurora Marion), a British spy and wireless operator. The Doctor sends a message to get the Master’s attention: one. Two. Three. Four. The menacing sound he has heard his whole life. The Doctor using the four beats to get the Master’s attention was brilliant. They connect in a way to speak to each other we haven’t seen since Classic Who.
By the time they end up back in present day, the Doctor has stopped Barton from converting humanity into Kasaavin-like beings. The Doctor has recorded the Master’s plan to wipe out the Kasaavin, so they take him to their realm. I don’t think this is the last we have seen of the Master! In fact, I hope it isn’t.
My thoughts on “Spyfall” part two
I loved how classic this episode felt. We first see the Master using the Tissue Compression Eliminator (TCE) in a 1971 episode of Doctor Who called “Terror of the Autons.” Then, the Master was played by Roger Delgado. For more information, check out this article from Radio Times.
The classic way of communicating was a nice touch as well. I am unsure of when this originally happened, but Time Lords do have the power to erase thoughts in people’s minds as well as place thoughts in the minds of others. It comes as no surprise, then, that they have the ability to speak telepathically to one another.
The episode ends with the Master still explaining that everything they know is a lie. The Doctor visits Gallifrey, her home planet, and finds it as the Master said: burned. He found Gallifrey in ashes, but that only happened because HE DID IT. The Doctor has a transmission-type message from him saying so, and there is mention of the Timeless child. Who is this Timeless child? Why are the founding fathers of Gallifrey so terrible? Does this version of the Master fit in sometime before Simm’s master? My theory is this Master is before Missy for sure. This Master has to be angry with the Doctor for saving Gallifrey rather than burning it during the Time War. Again, this is all speculation.
Finally, the Doctor opens up a little bit about who she is to her friends. She tells them that she is a Time Lord from Gallifrey with the ability to regenerate her body. She stole this TARDIS and has been traveling ever since. It saddens me that her home is now burning rather than safe as we last thought it was. Let’s see if Graham asks his loads of questions he has for her in the coming episodes.
What are your thoughts? Is anyone else going to insult their loved ones by calling them “donuts”? Are you left with just as many (if not more!) questions than when part one aired?
Doctor Who will return on Sunday, January 12th at 8pm.
Fan reactions
SO MISSY SAID IN SERIES 10 THAT SHE USED TO BURN WHOLE CITIES TO SEE THE PRETTY SHAPES THE SMOKE MADE AND SHE WAS CRYING, THINKING ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE SHE'S KILLED. IF DHAWAN!MASTER IS BEFORE HER, THEN SHE'S TALKING ABOUT GALLIFREY #DoctorWho
— sad times 13th doctor (@gi_bitxh) January 5, 2020
Part 2 Spyfall @DoctorWho_BBCA was brilliant! Two part season opener was so satisfying; thank God it’s back.#DoctorWho
— Javier Muñoz (@JMunozActor) January 6, 2020
Loving how Chibnall is tying together Classic and New Who for this story. #doctorwho
— Lady of Time Cosplay (@LoTCosplay) January 6, 2020
Fun fact! #DoctorWho https://t.co/upEnIfN9aV
— Doctor Who on BBC America (@DoctorWho_BBCA) January 6, 2020
For more Doctor Who coverage:
Doctor Who Series 12 Trailer – First Look at Outfits and Cosplay Help
Doctor Who Christmas Specials: A look at some of the favorites
The new Doctor Who trailer for series twelve is here!
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